A star-studded affair: Not long after its humble first voyage, Marina del Rey’s annual Holiday Boat Parade became the occasion when Hollywood met the sea

The first Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade was a small but inspired affair.

Back in December 1963, slips within the fledgling marina housed only about 100 boats —20 of which were decked out in Christmas lights and paraded around the harbor for the inaugural parade, boating columnist Darien Murray wrote in a 1972 column for The Argonaut (the paper being only a year old at the time).

Vessels docked at the marina in those days were often jostled by stormy seas before the 1965 completion of a protective breakwater. The first boat parade, in part, was a statement of the marina community’s recovery from a devastating storm the previous winter. Its grand marshal was David D. Jennings, Marina del Rey’s first leaseholder, who at the time was building the original Mystic Cove Marina.

But by the time Murray wrote her column, Marina del Rey — and, by extension, its boat parade — had become an important destination. That year “Rat Pack” member Joey Bishop led the parade as its grand marshal, taking the helm from 1971 grand marshal Buddy Ebsen, who ushered in an era of celebrity participation (both as parade leaders and yacht club partygoers) that continues to this day.

In addition to Hollywood stars, top sports figures, local elected leaders and radio personalities have also reigned over the parade.

Los Angeles Lakers President Jeanie Buss and former “Zen Master” Coach Phil Jackson, lead the parade this year as co-grand marshals under the theme “Holiday Magic.”

In honor of 51 years of nautical holiday tradition, former boat parade organizer and Marina del Rey Historical Society co-founder Willie Hjorth dug through her extensive archives to help The Argonaut spotlight many of the famous faces that have celebrated the holidays on our shores.